He is being held in Hamilton because Sheriff Richard Jones has a contract with the federal government to house federal inmates.

"Basically what we have here is probably one of the highest profile prisoners we've ever had at the jail," said Jones.

Cornell is being held in isolation. A glass partition separates him from the guards.

"He's isolated in an area where we can watch and keep an eye on him. He's what we refer to as a special prisoner. People ask me what I mean by special. He gets special attention," said Jones.

Just as close attention is being paid to the man accused of plotting to attack the Capitol, Jones said Cornell has been very observant as well.

"One thing that we think and we know that he's doing is he's watching everything around him, and he's quite capable of reading lips," Jones said. "He's reading lips, and he listens very intently, and I'm sure that he knows that he's got the attention of the entire country and other countries."

Jones wouldn't say whether federal investigators have been there to interrogate Cornell but said they can come and talk to him at any time, as can Cornell's public defender.

Cornell's parents told WLWT on Thursday they dropped off money for him last night and hope to visit him Saturday.

On Friday, sheriff's deputies will be the ones driving Cornell to the federal courthouse in downtown Cincinnati, but for security reasons, details of when the transport will happen are being kept under wraps.